Big money for prestige Brits at Classic Motor Show sale

Silverstone Auctions doubled its takings at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, amassing an impressive £2.7million and selling 76% of its 82 cars over two days in Birmingham.

Top seller was the the silver birch Aston Martin DB5 that made £362,250 all-in, with a another Aston – a 1958 DB2/4 MkIII – the second priciest classic at an estimate-busting £220,800.

There was strong money for other prestige English marques as well, notably Jaguar.

A Lister Le Mans Coupé amassed just under £60k, while a 1950 Xk120 Roadster topped £85k, more than double the £42,837 that was raised on a 1960 XK150 fixed-head and almost double the money than for a 1955 XK140 fhc.

Completing the classic Jag line-up was a 1962 Mk2 3.8 that made an impressive £55,200.

Star lots wearing the Blue Oval were the 1985 Ford RS200 (£105k) and the ex-MIke Costin Sierra RS Cosworth (£27.6k), a fraction more than you would have had to shell out for a three-door 1987 Cossie (below), but a lot more than the £14k raised by a 1986 RS Cosworth (two below).

Another big money lot proved to be a 'garage-find' 1967 Mk1 Mini Cooper 'S' that hadn't turned a wheel for 32 years and sold for £17,825.

It wasn't all about high-prices, however, and you could have snapped up a ready-to-go 4-litre XJ-S with big bills for under £1500.

Away from the British fare an Argentinian 1970 IKA Tornio 380S owned by motor racing legend Juan Manuel Fangio, lived up to its pre-sale excitement by fetching £28,175.

Two Ferraris, a 1982 512 BBi and a 1988 328 GTS achieved good prices at £110,400 and £41,055 respectively.

One of the most interesting lots was a Noble-built 1992 Ferrari 330 p4 replica. Powered by a 2.7-litre Renault V6, it is built to the highest spec and road-legal.

One of the best buys of the sale was a 1981 Alfa Spider 2000 with recent respray and new hood for just £3200, less than a fifth of the prove for a more desirable 1967 1600 Duetto. Top Alfa, though was a 1965 Giulia SS that topped £55k.

Other interesting lots included a 1970 ISO Rivolta (£29,325) and an immaculate M5-engine equipped 1973 BMW 3.0CSI for £35,650.

Nick Whale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions, said: “We worked extremely hard to put together arguable our best ever catalogue, and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to achieve such excellent prices for so many of our vendors.”